Thu. Mar. 6: HANK AZARIA AND THE EZ STREET BAND -7:30pm- $45.00
Hank Azaria & The EZ Street Band is a labor of love for Azaria, a life-long Springsteen fan. “I’ve never worked harder preparing for any role than I did in perfecting a singing vocal impression of Bruce,” said Azaria.
Azaria is an acclaimed actor and voice artist, perhaps best known for his decades of work on The Simpsons. Now he’s using his voice in a new and different way, and having a blast entertaining people in a live, concert setting. Azaria spent months creating an impression of Bruce’s distinctive speaking cadence and singing ‘voice’ to conceive the tribute show. As Azaria told Rolling Stone, “I think of it as a theatrical performance,” he says. “I’m staying in character as Bruce even though I’m telling stories about myself. It’s a performance piece, but I’m not a Bruce impersonator.”
The tribute performance itself is a joyful, full-tilt rock ’n roll event, and Azaria’s physicality and flair are a true homage to Bruce. Azaria channels many familiar components of Bruce Springsteen’s iconography: intimate, irreverent storytelling, connection to family, preternatural stamina, camaraderie with the band, and a palpable love for performing. Azaria has delivered a show we want to root for – invigorating, upbeat and ambitious.
In a concert review in Observer from the band’s first public performance on August 1st, 2024, Dylan Roth praised, “The debut public performance of Hank Azaria and the EZ Street Band, which sold out Le Poisson Rouge in Lower Manhattan, was a lively and heartfelt 80-minute celebration—not just of Springsteen’s music, but of the impact it has had on Azaria’s life. Azaria used the character of the Boss to revisit his triumphs and exorcize some personal demons, telling his own story in Bruce’s voice.”
All net proceeds will benefit The Four Through Nine Foundation, which was founded by Azaria and is committed to social justice, education and recovery causes — “I can’t think of a better way to spend my time and use my passion for voices than playing these songs for a crowd that loves them and to lovingly pay tribute to Bruce, while raising money for folks who need it.”
The Birthday Party Surprise: About nine months ago “I had the crazy idea that I would like to sing some Springsteen songs to surprise people at my 60th birthday party.” So Azaria called his son’s former jazz piano teacher, Adam Kromelow, who played in a Genesis tribute band, and asked him if he could put together a band. “At first I wasn’t sure I could capture Bruce’s singing voice– talking like him is no problem, I mean, that’s my day job!”
Azaria got obsessed with singing as exactly like Bruce as he could. He practiced every day for about 6 months, trying songs, abandoning them, circling back, and each time feeling like he was getting closer and closer to actually sounding a lot like his boyhood idol. About 4 months into this obsession, after driving his wife and son nearly insane with his constant “scream singing” around the house, “something ‘unlocked’ in my voice– I kind of couldn’t believe how Bruce-like it sounded.”
